The Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast has dry docked P&O Cruises’ 115,015 gross ton Azura as the company’s strategy to establish itself in the cruise sector has taken a step forward.

Earlier, the company provided its first major in-service support to Virgin Voyage’s Scarlet Lady. “The team provided the necessary support efficiently and without having to take it out of operation. This is a significant step towards providing high value add services to clients whilst ensuring vessels remain in operation,” the company said in a statement.

The largest dry dock at Harland & Wolff in Belfast is 556 metres long and 93 metres wide and it has a draft of 8.4 metres. It was built in the 1970s with the construction of large tankers in mind.

Two gantry cranes, with a lifting capacities of 900 tonnes and 840 tonnes, respectively, serve the dock, according to information on the company’s website.

Harland & Wolff is owned by the listed Infrastrata plc group, which is in progress of changing its name to Harland & Wolff Holdings plc.